PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 651 



from autopsy, and also the one placed first by liim in his genus. It has 

 been already (Syn. Fish. I^. A. 358) considered by us the type of the 

 genus Cwcula, and this restriction should stand. It is not quite certain 

 what species Vahl had, and his type is not now to be found in the 

 museum of Copenhagen. It is thought by Giinther that C. pterygera is 

 identical with SphaffehrancJius polyophtlialmus (Bleeker) Kaup. Spliage- 

 hranchus rostratus Bloch, the type of iSphagehranchus Bloch (1795) is also 

 uncertain. It is, however, evident that the two species are closely re- 

 lated, and that both belong to Giinther's subgenus Sphagehranchus 

 "group A." Ccccula must therefore take the place of Sphagebranclms, 

 of the still later Dalophis Eafinesque, and of Lamnostoma and An- 

 guisurus Kaup. The two species of Ccccula described from the United 

 States coast are not genuine members of that group, as they have the 

 dorsal large, beginning in front of middle of head, and the gill-open- 

 ings vertical and lateral, not oblique and ventral as in Cwcula. The 

 genus Calleclielys Kaup apjiarently coincides with this type, and may 

 be accepted as a generic or subgeneric name for them. 



The species of " Ophichthys" Giinther known from American waters, 

 north of the Tropic of Cancer, may be grouped as follows : 

 a. No trace of fins anywhere. 



1. Apferichthys selacliops Jor. & Gilb. 



h. A high dorsal and no other fins. 



2. Letharchus velifer Goode & Bean. 



c. Dorsal beginning on front of head ; pectorals obsolete or nearly 

 so; teeth small; pointed. 



3. Calleclielys scuticaris (Goode & Bean). 



4. Calleclielys teres (Goode & Beau). 



d. Pectorals developed, usually small ; teeth granular. 



5. OpMsurus acuminatus Gronow. { = longusFoGy.) 



6. OpMsurus xysturus Jor. & Gilb, 



e. Pectorals large; teeth all pointed. 

 /. Teeth of each series subequal. 



7. Ophichthys miurus Jor. «& Gilb. 



8. Ophichthys triseriaUs (Kaup). 



9. Ophichthys ocellatus (Le Sueur). 



10. Ophichthys macrurus Poey. 



11. Ophichthys chrysops Poey. 



12. Ophichthys zophochir Jor. & Gilb. 

 ff. Some of the teeth strong canines. 



13. Ophichthys {Mystriophis t) schneideri Steindachner. 

 Indiana University, November 15, 1882. 



